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KOMPAS/EVY RACHMAWATI

Director of Hajj Development at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Arsad Hidayat, presented a session during a Technical Guidance event for the Hajj Service Officers (PPIH) in Saudi Arabia for the year 1445 Hijri/2024 AD, on Wednesday (30/3/2024), at the Hajj Dormitory in Jakarta.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Organizing the Hajj pilgrimage in 2024 faces a number of challenges. Apart from the large number of elderly or senior citizens who will go on Hajj, crucial points regarding accommodation for pilgrims need to be anticipated.

Director of Hajj Development Directorate of Hajj and Umrah Organization of the Ministry of Religion Arsad Hidayat explained this at the Technical Guidance for Saudi Arabian Hajj Organizing Officers (PPIH), Wednesday (30/3/2024), at the Hajj Dormitory, Jakarta.

There are around 45,000 elderly citizens who will depart to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in 2024. Although this number is smaller than last year's figure which reached 71,000 people, special treatment from the PPIH is required to ensure that elderly pilgrims can be healthy, fit and comfortable in performing their religious duties.

Based on the evaluation of the 2023 hajj implementation, it was recorded that 820 members of the elderly congregation passed away while performing the hajj. The extreme hot weather in Saudi Arabia worsened the health condition of the elderly congregation.

KOMPAS/EVY RACHMAWATI

Director of Hajj Development, Ministry of Religion, Arsad Hidayat

The high death rate for Hajj pilgrims is caused by fatigue and a number of comorbidities. Because of this, Hajj officials, especially worship guides, are asked to create alternative schemes for carrying out worship without departing from Islamic provisions.

Hajj officers are expected to provide the best service for elderly citizens. "Serving the elderly is the same as serving our parents. They need extra attention," he said.

Arsad added that elderly hajj pilgrims must undergo a health check-up. Hajj officers are also prepared to accompany and serve the specific needs of elderly pilgrims.

Read: Optimize Services for Hajj Pilgrims

In addition, the case of bus service delays in Muzdalifah, Saudi Arabia, in 2023 serves as a lesson for the Indonesian Government. The incident resulted in stranded Hajj pilgrims who were late to eat and became exhausted.

Regarding this, the Indonesian Government will implement contracts with masyariq (service provider companies) more quickly. His party will also tighten supervision of bus companies so that cases of stranded Hajj pilgrims do not happen again.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Officials assist the passage of hajj pilgrims from cluster 1 from Bangkalan Regency who have just arrived at Juanda Surabaya Airport, Sidoarjo, East Java, on Tuesday (4/7/2023).

Given the enormity of this problem, hajj officials, particularly those in the transportation department, are expected to ensure that vehicles arrive on time for this year's hajj pilgrimage.

Previously, Deputy Minister of Religion Saiful Rahmat Dasuki stated that the crucial point last year is expected not to happen again. "This must be handled in all aspects in the Homeland and in Saudi Arabia," he said.

Mina Jadid

Meanwhile, Arsad asserted that there were no Indonesian hajj pilgrims placed in Mina Jadid this year.

Minister of Religion, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, quoted from the Ministry of Religion website, stated that nine Indonesian hajj dormitories that were originally located in Mina Jadid will be relocated to the Muaishim area.

This must be handled in all aspects in both Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.

This was conveyed by the Minister of Religious Affairs during a Working Meeting with the Eighth Commission of the House of Representatives at Senayan, Jakarta. Also present at the meeting were the Acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Abu Rokhmad, the Director General of Hajj and Umrah (PHU) Hilman Latief, the Minister of Religious Affairs' Special Staff and Advisors, as well as officials of eselon I and II of the PHU Directorate General.

KOMPAS/EVY RACHMAWATI

Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Saiful Rahmat Dasuki opened a technical guidance event for the Hajj Organizing Committee (PPIH) in Saudi Arabia at the Hajj Dormitory in Jakarta on Tuesday (19/3/2024) evening.

"The placement of Indonesian hajj pilgrims in Mina for the hajj season of 1445 H/2024 M has undergone a location change, namely from Maktab 1 to 9, with an approximate number of 27,000 pilgrims who were previously placed in the Mina Jadid area now being relocated to the Muaishim area," said Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut, during a Working Meeting with the Eighth Commission of the DPR on Wednesday (13/3/2024).

Also read: Hajj, Journey of Faith, More Comfortable Hope

"This is the government's effort so that Indonesian Hajj pilgrims are not too far from the Jamarat. Hopefully, this can increase the comfort of pilgrims in worship," he said.

So far, the preparation of accommodations for hajj pilgrims in Mecca and Medina has been completed. Next, they will configure the placement after the payment process of the hajj pilgrims is completed.

Apart from accommodation for pilgrims, the Ministry of Religion has prepared a number of services in Saudi Arabia, such as food and transportation services. For consumption services, Hajj pilgrims plan to receive 27 meals while in Medina, 84 meals in Makkah, and 15 meals plus 1 heavy snack in Masyair.

KOMPAS/ADI PRINANTYO

inister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas issued a statement to journalists at the Saudi Arabian Daker office in mid-June 2023.

"The preparation of this consumption is in the final stages. As for the consumption services at Jeddah airport, according to the decision of the BPIH Working Committee 1445 H/2024 M, it has been transferred to Mecca," he said.